Zariah accidentally bumped the heavy marble pedestal, sending an antique porcelain vase crashing onto the floor where it shattered into a thousand pieces

The heavy silence in the ballroom was abruptly shattered by Caroline’s frantic movement. Driven by sheer, unadulterated panic, she lunged toward the broken porcelain, her expensive heels slipping slightly on the marble as she desperately reached for the yellowed envelope.

Xavier was immensely faster. He casually reached down and snatched the envelope from the floor a fraction of a second before her manicured fingers could graze the paper.

Before Xavier could even inspect the seal, a heavy hand clamped down violently around his wrist. Julian Mercer had pushed his way through the crowd. His fair, ruddy skin was flushed with a pinkish undertone of pure adrenaline, his expensive tailored suit shifting as he squeezed Xavier’s arm with all his strength.

"Give that to me," Julian demanded, his voice trembling with panicked urgency. "It’s nothing, Xavier. Just old catering receipts. Let it go."

Xavier did not move. He did not pull away. He simply lowered his gaze, slowly looking down at the hand that dared to restrain him. The heavy gold family signet ring on Xavier’s finger gleamed like a warning beacon under the cinematic lighting.

"Julian," Xavier said, his voice dropping into a register so dark and low it seemed to vibrate the floorboards. "Remove your hand. Now."

"I am a made man in this family, Xavier!" Julian shouted, his fear making him reckless. "I said hand it over!"

Xavier tore his wrist free with such violent torque that Julian stumbled forward. In the exact same fluid, explosive motion, Xavier drove one devastating punch squarely across Julian’s face.

The sound of fracturing bone echoed through the massive room. Julian’s feet left the floor. He spun backward, crashing directly into the massive, flower-covered wedding arch. The heavy wooden lattice cracked right down the middle with a deafening splintering sound. Heavy flower garlands tore loose from their moorings, and the entire arch collapsed over Julian’s shoulders. White petals and decorative branches exploded across the marble, burying the man in the wreckage.

"Julian!" Caroline shrieked.

She attacked Xavier from his blind side, her claws extended, reaching frantically for the envelope in his left hand.

Xavier caught her arm mid-swing with absolute, effortless precision. He turned her forcefully away from where Zariah was hiding, pivoting his hips, and delivered one thunderous, open-handed slap across Caroline's porcelain face.

The impact lifted her completely off her feet. Caroline spun wildly into the rolling dessert cart parked nearby. The heavy brass cart overturned on impact. Pastries, silver trays, cream-filled desserts, crystal plates, and heavy serving utensils scattered violently across the floor. Caroline crashed beside the wreckage, her luxurious formal gown smeared entirely with chocolate and white frosting.

Xavier stepped over a shattered silver tray, his polished shoes crunching on the glass. He stared down at the ruined, terrified woman clutching her bruised cheek.